This timeless classic is a wonderful read for the young mind exploring science- possibly their first real book of fiction with elements of hard science woven throughout the theme. But- definitely still fantasy and very fictional. Copyright 1971. I remember this on the shelves of my elementary school and remember liking it as a child.
The book begins with the story of a widowed field mouse, Mrs. Frisby, and the tale of her sick son Timothy. The Frisby family, minus the father who died the year before, is currently living in their winter home which is a cinderblock in the middle of a dormant vegetable patch. The leftover vegetables and scraps are enough to feed the family until plowing time again when they must move further away from the farm to their summer home. Unfortunately, Timothy is too sick to move and when Mrs. Frisby hears Farmer Fitzgibbons plow, she knows she is running out of time. With the help of a crow who owes her a favor and a wise owl in the forest, Mrs. Frisby learns that her late husband's deeds earned her enough respect in the community to warrant a visit to the rats.
Who are the rats? All that Mrs. Frisby knows at that point is that a large group of rats live in a nearby rosebush, but she never knew that her husband had any dealings with them.
Her introduction to the rats opens the story of their origin, what happened to her husband and why, their plan for the future- and most importantly to her, a way to move her house away from the danger of the plow so her son can survive without a move that will surely cause his death.
It turns out that the rats came from a lab focused on improving the intelligence of animals. Little did the researcher know that he was training his rats to escape and survive on their own with the use of electricity and other sophistication.
Upon escape, the rats used their enhanced brains and knowledge from the lab to create their own sophisticated society living within the protection of the thorns of a rosebush near a farm. From this farm they were able to steal what they needed to create quite a beautiful home complete with decor, an elevator and modern conveniences traditionally used by humans. But they know their time is limited in the rosebush- rumor has it their home is in danger.
When Mrs. Frisby goes to sedate the farm cat so the rats can move her house from the dangers of the plow she overhears conversations about the arrival of exterminator for the rats in the rosebush. All plans are accelerated, and the rats must leave immediately.
This is a fast-moving tale with excitement and suspense and well-worth reading during the school year as a required fictional book or during the summer. Highly recommended.
